Newsagent representation

This, from May 30, 1999. It’s a speech delivered by then Minister for Financial Services and Regulation Joe Hockey. Here it is in its entirety:

Address to the Australian Newsagents’ Federation Industry Conference, Gold Coast
Good morning ladies and gentlemen and thank you to Bob Dean and the entire ANF board for inviting me to speak at your national conference, here in Surfers Paradise.

It has been an eventful six months for everyone involved in the newsagent industry. During this time, the industry’s future has at times seemed clouded and the way forward unclear.

In fact, for the past 20 years your industry has persevered under uncertain conditions.

But I am confident that we have reached a sound commercial solution to a situation that at one stage looked vexed and complicated.

So, now it is a good time to examine where we are, and importantly, how we got there.

I should say, that over this period, the ANF board has provided outstanding leadership to its members and remained focused on the issues needing to be thrashed out.

They have responded thoughtfully to the changes in the industry and represented – very robustly – the interests of members, and importantly, kept a keen eye on the future.

In particular, I would like to mention Bob Dean’s diligence in this whole process. His efforts have been outstanding – continually travelling the country to represent his members in more than 80 meetings over the last 6 months.

Bob has ensured that the industry has approached the issue in a positive way.

This is evidenced by the QNF conference in March. I understand that the conference was very well attended and that it was a most productive forum.

Indeed, the positive attitude of newsagents, wanting to seize the opportunity to improve all aspects of the industry and ensure your future, is to be commended.

And now, after a solid 6 months of consultation, a competitive and equitable system, with greater freedom and greater flexibility for newsagents to manage their businesses with confidence, appears to be within reach.

As you all know, the need to consider the industry’s commercial framework had its genesis in the decision last November of the Australian Competition Tribunal.

In this case, the Tribunal found that aspects of the newsagency systems in NSW, the ACT, Victoria and Queensland no longer satisfied the public benefit test as required by the Trade Practices Act.

That is, the anti-competitive effects of the distribution systems outweighed the benefit to the public.

This meant that recently granted authorisations only protected arrangements preventing direct supply of magazines to sub-agents and direct supply of newspapers to ‘look-alikes’ until 1 July this year, and the direct supply of newspapers to sub-agents until 1 February 2000.

This was a time frame which the Government was very aware would concern many newsagents.

But we were also very aware that there needed to be an outcome that benefited newsagents, that benefited publishers and, very importantly, that benefited consumers.

From the outset, the Government was entirely sympathetic to the newsagents’ concerns and committed to the continuation of home delivery.

Indeed, we have been, historically, supportive of the industry over a number of years.

But the Tribunal’s decision was in keeping with the Government’s position on home delivery – the principal public benefit claimed for the system.

In 1996 – delivering on its election commitment – the Government made a submission to the ACCC supporting the extension for another 4 years of the authorisation protecting the reliable, efficient and low-cost home delivery service for newspapers.

The ACCC and Tribunal adopted this time frame to make sure the industry had enough time to reform its arrangements.

I should emphasise that the ACCC and Tribunal are independent and not subject to any direction from the Government.

I should also emphasise that these arrangements between newsagents and publishers are private sector contracts, and as such, are totally at arm’s length from Government.

In other words, there’s not a lot a government could, or should, do.

It will always be up to any industry to change over time – after all, as the Tribunal found the newsagency industry’s conduct, but for the ACCC’s authorisation, would have been in breach of the Trade Practices Act.

And while that is the case, the Government has always been very willing to help the industry make positive changes.

In the light of the first Tribunal decision in 1994 requiring reform and the decision last November, and in order to seek a way forward, I asked the ACCC to consult between industry groups and to report back by 15 February this year. This was then extended to 31 March.

In early April I announced that as the report contained commercially sensitive material it would not be publicly released.

Following this, on April 20 after an application from the Australian Newsagents Federation, the ACCC granted an interim authorisation to the Federation allowing it to negotiate with publishers and distributors on behalf of newsagents.

I believe this was granted to allow the industry to build on the momentum which had been generated by the earlier discussions, and to provide individual newsagents with the industrial power of collective bargaining which is required during times of change.

For individual newsagents, this means they will be protected during contractual negotiations.

Ladies and gentlemen, the entire process has been intense and exhaustive, but a process which could not have happened without the help of the ACCC, and in particular, the good work ACCC Commissioner Sitesh Bhojani, who personally participated in over 60 industry discussions.

But this was not a typical role for the ACCC.

It had no official duties to complete. Rather, the ACCC acted as voluntary facilitator, smoothing and lubricating the consultative process.

Indeed, despite being set a difficult task by Parliament to protect and promote competition, the ACCC devoted a huge amount of time and resources to facilitate genuine industry discussions for the newsagency system.

And as such, apart from impressing upon all parties the importance of frank and honest dialogue, the Government has stayed very much at arm’s length – not engaging in negotiations on behalf of any side.

We have had no direct involvement, because we believe it is not for the Government to determine the operations of markets.

But we have had a role to play.

You asked me to help bring the publishers genuinely to the negotiating table.

I did that.

You asked me to help create an environment where newsagents will not have the ACCC constantly looking over their shoulder.

I did that.

You asked me to extend the consultation period.

I did that.

And you asked me to help newsagents to collectively bargain during this time of change.

And I did that, too.

And, as a result, we fully support your preference for commercial contracts, as has been spelt out in the May edition of your industry journal, National Newsagent.

So where is the industry heading?

While I have not seen any contracts, I know that newsagents are being offered greater freedom and greater flexibility to shape their business as they choose.

For example, those newsagents who are now compelled to provide home delivery even where the delivery is at a loss, may have the option of selling-off this unprofitable side of the business.

I can well understand the frustration of a newsagent, awake at 5am, working through the morning and attending to a lunchtime rush, when a disgruntled home-delivery customer fronts up to complain about the plastic wrapping on their paper.

Now, the competitive framework that has been worked out should see the innovative newsagents thrive, with benefits to consumers including an even better home delivery system.

Newsagents will have more scope to manage their business, with the ability to shed unprofitable aspects.

There is no reason why any newsagents would be forced to close.

Very importantly, the Government has met its election commitment to preserve newspaper home delivery.

As a result, Australians can now be assured of continued delivery of their morning papers, while newsagents can be assured of a more certain environment in which to conduct their business.

In other words, newsagents are being given choice.

You are being given the choice to run your businesses in a more certain environment, and importantly, you are being given the choice of how you will adapt to your changing business environment.

The future is what we make of it.

The Government cannot guarantee any individual business or industry, but we have created a business environment of strong economic growth, with low inflation, strong consumer demand and low interest rates.

Ladies and gentlemen, in the face of rapidly changing uses of technology, I think this new commercial structure is a solid foundation for the future.

It is a structure, which will benefit Australia’s newsagents, and it is a structure, which will benefit Australia’s consumers.

And so it is a structure, which we would all do well to support.

…

Hockey was a politician. There will be some from our channel back then who will disagree with his take on what the government did and didn’t do for newsagents, and some who disagree with what the ANF at that time did or did not do for newsagents. In my opinion, newsagents were not well represented through the changes driven by the Howard government. Much was taken from us without compensation. We were ineffective in achieving a fair outcome for the thousands of family owned and run businesses. The government, which was elected as caring about small business, and newsagents in particular, failed our channel.

Have newsagents not learnt? The failure to create a single national, newsagent controlled, industry association for decades has left newsagents weak and fighting with each other at critical times.

In my opinion, weakness failed newsagents in negotiating terms of government encouraged deregulation with newspaper and magazine publishers in the 1990s, the deconstruction of the newspaper home delivery by newsagents over the last 10 years, lottery commission terms and more.

The disorganisation of newsagents representatively, led, I think, by the egos of a few in leadership roles over the years, but not all in those roles, has seen newsagents weakened through critical changes in and to their businesses.

The latest turf war flows from the reported involvement of The Lottery Corporation (theLott and formerly Tatts etc) and their engagement with the National Retail Association. The Australian has the story:

Newsagents claim they have been covertly signed up to National Retail Association
EXCLUSIVE
ELI GREENBLAT
SENIOR BUSINESS REPORTER
@EliGreenblat

4:35PM OCTOBER 13, 2022
The industry body representing some 4000 newsagents has denounced the National Retail Association for allegedly forcing franchisees to become members.

In an email to its members obtained by The Australian, the Newsagents Association of NSW and the ACT accused the NRA and the ASX-listed Lottery Corporation of trashing individual freedoms and the right to the freedom of association by dragooning newsagents and sellers of lottery tickets into its grouping.

“National Retail Association and … Lottery Corporation demonstrate how they are prepared to ignore your fundamental rights to freedom of association – their arrogance is contemptible,” the email reads. “You shouldn’t have to opt out of something you never asked or gave permission for.”

The Newsagents Association said the NRA would seek to advocate on their behalf but could be compromised in any dispute between Lottery Corp and newsagents as a senior executive of sat on the NRA board as a director.

The article is odd in that it appears to have come from the ‘Newsagent Association’ side but it does not make clear which association. It quotes Ian Booth as the secretary. Booth is secretary of NANA a NSW/ACT association, and he is a Director of Newspower. The article says The industry body representing some 4000 newsagents has denounced the National Retail Association for allegedly forcing franchisees to become members. I don’t think NANA has anything close to 4,000 members, not even 2,000.

ALNA, the national association probably has more, but I suspect not 4,000 newsagent members. There aren’t 4,000 newsagency businesses in Australia.

Then there is NLNA, the Victorian led and run group that claims to be a national association. I doubt they have 4,000 members.

So, a fact check by the journalist at The Australian could have helped create a more useful and, maybe, accurate article.

While the article does reveal a relationship between The Lottery Corporation and the National Retail Association that I think could concern newsagents with lotteries, its usefulness in shining a light on the issue is diminished by an apparent lack of basic fact checking, which brings me to the reason I am writing this.

Unless newsagents sort our their representative mess and bring ALNA, NLNA, VANA, NANA any any other NA under one banner with one national focus they will continue to lose out, and by they, I mean individual newsagents. And in my opinion, ALNA has the national representation runs on the board over many years.

To me, unless I am missing something, this story in The Australian reflects continuation of the failure if strong representation of newsagents, a failure that has let down too many local small business retailers.

Oh, and as for the National Retail Association, I have read what they offer and I don’t see any value whatsoever there for local independent newsagents, I don’t see the need of their current membership mix aligning with those of local independent newsagents. To me, that’s a more interesting story – why try and group newsagents with the NRA group? Who wins?

Footnote: there is a reason newsagents do not engage with their various associations in meaningful numbers.

I’m told VANA / NLNA emailed newsagents last week promoting free membership for six months. I’m not sure if it is free for existing members or only new members.

In their pitch they say they provide members improved income, reduced costs and improved foot traffic. The marketing reads as a bit old school to me though, and out of touch.

Newsagents have access to very competitive insurance rates as well as easy access to HR support. They don’t need to be in NLNA to access these things.

As for an Amazon locker, that’s an agency offer that we know from overseas experience will do little for over the counter sales in a shop.

Like I said, it all feels a bit out of touch.

It’s on my mind because a new newsagent asked me about it. They felt that they could fail in their new business if they did not join. I explained that everything the NLNA business spruiks can be accessed elsewhere. I told them to save their money and that is belonging to a representative body was important to them, the better established and nationally representative ALNA is what I recommend.

People can join any group they want or feel is right for them. My only advice is do your homework, make sure it is a good fit for you.

Now, for disclosure, I own newsXpress. you could consider newsXpress a competitor of NLNA. I don’t see it that way as the suite of benefits and services available through newsXpress is very different.

I was cold-called by an NLNA sales person late yesterday, Sam.

Sam had the pitch down claiming that NLNA helps its customers, yes, that is the term he used, to make more money in their businesses and cut their costs.

I questioned him about the details and he mentioned other business names, partners apparently, but no details as to the how.

He was on a mission for me to sign up. That appeared to be his only goal.

I am guessing that Sam is one of the NLNA sales people they hired a few weeks ago, pitching $2,000 a week income commission only.

While Sam has a job to do, a quota to make, if he wants to achieve any income, association representation comes from the hard slog of representation. There is only one national association representing newsagents and that is ALNA, as recognised already by suppliers and myriad government bodies.

What a joke.

NLNA, the wannabe start-up association has applied to the ACCC for authorisation to represent newsagents with Tabcorp. NLNA has one member, VANA. VANA is already authorised by the ACCC. I don’t see any need for the requested authorisation. Also, with VANA and NLNA being primarily commercially focussed organisations, hiring commission-only sales people to sell their products and services, in my opinion, granting authorisation would negatively impact the integrity of authorisation.

VANA / NLNA advertised for commission only ‘sales people’ to sell to newsagents. They listed 2 ads: Victoria and Brisbane / Gold Coast.

Here is the ad for Victoria:

Here is the ad for Queensland:

They announced Friday two new business development managers.

The VANA created wannabe national group, NLNA (not to be confused with ALNA, the real national body serving newsagents) emailed newsagents last week saying they had been busy serving newsagents through COVID-19. They demonstrated this by providing access to a supply of hand sanitiser. Once again, arriving at the party late thanks to many many suppliers of hand sanitiser reaching out to newsagents over previous weeks.

Here is an announcement from ALNA late tonight.

Newsagents to remain open across Australia 

• Enabling accessibility of news and information for older Australian and those with limited digital options
• Establishing strict protocols regarding social distancing, cleaning and hygiene

Australia, 23 March 2020, Following on from the Australian Lottery and Newsagents Association’s (ALNA) proactive letter to several Federal Cabinet ministers last week, requesting that they consider Australian newsagents to be an ‘essential service’ and remain open as they have in France and Italy, ALNA is pleased with advice and support we have received from State and Federal governments that newsagents can remain open at this time, while managing their responsibilities carefully.

ALNA was contacted today by the Deputy Prime Minister, Michael McCormack, who acknowledged the advice we had provided government regarding newsagents and their role in the Australian community. He reassured us that the government made efforts yesterday to provide greater clarity for all small businesses, including our members, around which businesses were closing.

ALNA understands how complex these issues are and we appreciate the government alleviating members concerns and providing greater clarity for all small businesses including our newsagents. We want to be a strong role model for other businesses in managing social distancing and helping to educate the public about this, all the while continuing to deliver hard copy news and some of life’s basics. In particularly supporting our older generations who rely on newsagents for their convenience and to many others who either don’t have ease of access to digital news or whose preference is for hard copy news.

Ben Kearney, CEO, Australian Lottery and Newsagents Association, stated “With strict cleaning protocols, personal hygiene and social distancing rules in place, and limiting how many customers can be in store at any given time, it’s undoubtedly not business as usual, however we are working hard to innovate our service delivery and this announcement from the Government provides certainty, for now, to our newsagents as to their continuity of trading during these challenging and unprecedented times”.

Newsagents are also in a strong position to alleviate pressure on supermarkets and local grocery stores, as many provide food and beverage items and other important household items. And with school children still either attending school or being home schooled, having access to a wide range of stationery and school supplies will be a relief for parents and carers as well.

Ben Kearney, CEO of ALNA, has been in touch, outlining his representations recently, including today, on behalf of newsagents, seeking to have retail newsagencies permitted to open during the lockdown.

ALNA CEO Ben Kearney sent out this newsflash this afternoon:

Australian Lottery and Newsagents Association (ALNA) calls on Tabcorp to take decisive steps to protect and support their retailers in navigating the COVID-19 pandemic
As I am sure our members will agree, these are unprecedented and very challenging times and the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are being felt in every aspect of our lives and critically in the retail network.

Above all else we are encouraging our members to please stay calm, as your teams, suppliers and customers will all appreciate this as we are all working hard to navigate the same challenges.

As you would be aware the Federal and State Governments are taking extraordinary steps to stay ahead of the curve with this pandemic and many large businesses are stepping up to do their share of the heavy lifting. Simple measures like ensuring continuity of wages or sick leave for casual employees that may need to self-isolate are helping. Big business has much greater capacity to absorb these shocks than small business operators do and Tabcorp is in a strong position to help.

ALNA is already working with government on ways to help retailers through the crisis and of course in recovery on the other side. This is a great opportunity for ALNA and Tabcorp to work together on this issue with government, as they (the issuers of licences) are significant stakeholders and will ultimately feel the shocks to the retail network over time with a loss of tax revenue, etc.

The fear and panic this pandemic have caused is unparalleled and Tabcorp’s retailers are not immune.

ALNA is making available as much information and support to members during these uncertain and extraordinary times.

As this crisis unfolds ALNA is fielding lots of calls from genuinely concerned members who are already feeling the impacts and are asking if Tabcorp has a plan to support and protect their retail network.

Retailers concerns are wide ranging and start with smaller more immediate concerns i.e. what will happen if the shopping centre closes and I am left with a large amount of unsold syndicate shares, to bigger concerns around what will happen if the shopping centre is forced to close and I have no income for several weeks, or on high streets if players stay home and self-isolate.

The biggest concern of many retailers is the potential for a rapid transfer or dislocation of retail sales over to online as the crisis worsens and more self-isolation measures are adopted or imposed. The new remuneration/omni-channel model does include retailers in omni-channel sales and revenue, but it is not geared to fairly support retailers if an unprecedented and rapid dislocation occurs like this and retailers are left with no mechanisms to sell lottery products to regular customers.

Retailers already report customers are opting to stay at home to avoid the risk of infection. This will potentially be catastrophic for retailers if this escalates through fear or by additional government restrictions on public gatherings and self-isolation, etc. As Tabcorp and many other employers are encouraging and facilitating staff to work from home where possible. This will add to the reduction in retail traffic our members are already reporting.

As you know the new remuneration model has a significant portion of revenue contingent on some performance and compliance outcomes and this is unfortunately adding to the uncertainty and anxiety about cashflow for retailers which is so important to their livelihood at this difficult time. Small business ‘lives and dies’ on cashflow. The failure of cashflow is the single biggest cause of small business closure and consequent loss of employment.

Yesterday, Australian Lottery and Newsagents Association (ALNA) has written to Tabcorp’s Managing Director and called on them to take decisive steps to protect and support their retailers.

ALNA has recommended the following practical measures that will deliver immediate and direct support to their retailers, but importantly they will provide surety and would clearly demonstrate Tabcorp’s support for their retail network in this incredibly challenging and unique time. These will relieve some of the stress and concern being felt by retailers and demonstrate that the whole business is working to resiliently move through this together. They would set a great precedent too for other franchise systems in Australia to follow.

Suspend scoring of the Omni-channel Program for this cycle – immediately (for this Cycle 02/03/2020 – 28/06/2020) suspend scoring the omni-channel program requirements and rate all retailers Green for the Cycle. This will guarantee the commissions from the remaining or available sales are not further eroded and immediately relieve heightened anxiety of retailers.

Support Retailers Revenue – in the event a rapid retail sales decline, business interruption (i.e. shopping centre closures), or the effects of any other forced social distancing measures imposed or being felt in centres and high streets occurs, or where customers simply disengage completely due to illness, Tabcorp should consider temporarily removing ongoing franchise and terminal fees etc. and guarantee retailer’s revenue/commissions for any period the retailers are unable to trade or feel the disproportionate effects of this crisis. This would provide surety and help retailers to maintain quality well trained staff who will be so critical in the rebound phase.

Increase Share of Online/Digital Sales – if there is a rapid and en masse transfer or dislocation of retail sales to online due to mass self-isolations, for Tabcorp to implement temporary measures or mechanisms to re-allocate revenue back to retailers to more fairly share digital revenue during this period which will provide critical and direct financial support to retailers.
Furthermore, ALNA has signalled our desire to work together on what plans or strategies can be prepared now for the retail network when the crisis has passed, and we move into a recovery phase. What marketing, promotional or other initiatives can we plan now for implementation post the virus to help drive customers back into retail.

Importantly, as part of the recovery, ALNA believes we need to consider any permanent market changes that occur as a results of this crisis i.e. if the transfer or dislocation of retail sales to online is sustained past the crisis, the omni-channel model will need to be reviewed and transformed to cater for this new trading environment and to ensure retailers are fairly considered.

We will keep members updated on constructive dialogue and solutions.

VANA, the association of some Victorian newsagents has announced a name change and a national focus. They have created National Lottery and Newsagents Association, NLNA. Talk about original. ALNA, the Australian Lottery and Newsagents Association already exists, with an almost identical name, and has a track record of good representation.

This is a stupid move by VANA in my opinion, a move taken to further splinter the already challenged representation of the newsagency channel. A selfish move, maybe ego driven.

The name represents the stupidity. Rather than being creative, they decided to copy. Talk about dumb.

VANA should have folded into ALNA. One national body is enough for the shrinking channel. Now, suppliers are left wondering where to support. My view is that VANA deserves no support. They are not an association. Instead, they are a marketing group trading off the back of a single state association. Good luck to them. However, they need to stop obsessing about agency business to have a future.

VANA parades as an association but I bet they take a percentage from every supplier organisation they support in one way or another. They can do that for sure, but call it what it is – a marketing group.

In my view, associations should be purely that, associations – representing members in collective bargaining and to government on policy matters. That’s not VANA.

I have no arrangement with ALNA whatsoever. I think they are doing a good job. This move by VANA against them is dumb. It splinters and already splintered channel.

Footnote: I am a director of newsXpress, a newsagency marketing group, a competition of VANA in some areas. The difference is that newsXpress is transparent as to what it is.

I am attending some of the ALNA regional meetings over the next few weeks: Cairns (tonight), Gold Coast, Gladstone and Rockhampton. I mention this for transparency. I am not paying to participate. ALNA has an open invitation for suppliers to attend. I encourage others to join in. Click here for the session details.

An announcement from ALNA this morning on smooth, structured, leadership succession:

ALNA continues to represent Australia’s news and lottery agents with new CEO

The Australian Lottery and Newsagents Association appoints Ben Kearney as its Chief Executive Offer effective October 1^st, 2019

Australia, 23^rd August 2018: The Australian Lottery and Newsagents Association (ALNA), Australia’s national industry body for newsagents, has announced that Ben Kearney will be promoted to the role of CEO on October 1^st 2019.

Ben Kearney has held senior roles at ALNA for over 10 years, most recently as National Manager of Policy and Government Relations and prior to that General Manager of ALNA Tasmania. He was also the Executive Officer of the Lottery Agents Association of Tasmania for a number of years.

Adam Joy, CEO of the Australian Lottery and Newsagents Association, “It is with great satisfaction that I announce that Ben Kearney will be my successor as CEO of the Australian Lottery and Newsagents Association, when I leave the organisation at the end of September 2018.

“We implemented our succession plan in late June 2018 for a smooth transition to incoming CEO Ben Kearney so that members nation-wide will continue to be supported and strongly represented.

“Ben has demonstrated proven leadership in representing the issues that affect news, distribution and lottery agents, serving them well, and with a strong appreciation of the challenges that our members face on a daily basis, as well as the opportunities in front of them. He has been instrumental through his hard work and relentless dedication in delivering some of the biggest legislative changes that have been passed to help ALNAs members.

“Over the last decade, in my time as CEO and prior to that COO at ALNA, I have seen the members of ALNA prove that the industry is strong and thriving, as news, distribution and lottery agents evolve and serve the communities that they operate in. I’d like to thank my team and members across Australia for their commitment and inspiration over the last ten years.

“Along with the very dedicated team and board at ALNA, we have achieved great things to help members improve their profitability and future-proof the industry. This includes being instrumental in the banning of lotto betting in Australia, negotiating millions of dollars of cost savings for members across the country, advocating for the introduction of state and Federal Small Business Commissioners and Ombudsman, seeing in the introduction of critical Unfair Contract Terms legislation federally, and pushing other reforms to improve merchant charges and to improve fairness in competition laws.

“I know that Ben will build on these achievements and lead ALNA in enabling Australia’s largest independent retail and home delivery group to continue to grow and succeed. And as the only news, distribution and lottery agents’ association with a national ACCC collective bargaining authorisation, the organisation will benefit from his track record. We are very pleased that someone of his calibre and reputation will be taking the reins and driving the industry even further, and I’m really excited to watch the sector’s continued growth.”

Incoming ALNA CEO, Ben Kearney, said, “I am pleased to be able to serve our members as Chief Executive Officer. It is an exciting time for the industry, and I am looking forward to this new opportunity and to consulting with members on their key priorities, and accelerating the industry. Adam has provided great leadership for our industry in his time as CEO and we will build on this by continuing to be collectively invested in our success moving forward. It is crucial for increased profitability and our sustainability. I look forward to building on what ALNA has already achieved, working alongside our excellent state General Managers and staff.”

Current CEO Adam Joy will continue serving in his role and working closely with management and the board until the end of September and will be offering any requested assistance for an additional six-month transition.

State based associations VANA and NANA are pitching for Lottoland as the company considers a High Court challenge to the parliamentary threat to its ability to trade in Australia as News Corp. outlets reported.

Victorian Association for Newsagents general manager Chris Samartzis and Newsagents Association of NSW and ACT chief Ian Booth both support Lottoland. They say the legislation before parliament will stop increased competition in lotteries, hurting small businesses.

“It will create a monolithic monopoly in Australia, which is not in the interest of small business,” Mr Booth said.

That Aussie newsagents are not represented by a single voice on national issues weakens representation in my opinion.